ACTIVITY: Introduction to Pay It Forward
Resilience Focus Area: Emotions & Behaviours Learning Outcomes:
*To understand what Pay it Forward is
*To understand how doing something for others is beneficial for our well-being
*To feel confident completing a Pay it Forward application
Time Activity Method Resources
SIGN IN & CHECK IN Ask young people to complete Sign In sheet
Ask the group to say how they are feeling from 1-10 and if they want to share why
Sign In Sheet Pen
WELCOME & LEARNING EXPECTATIONS Explain to the young people we are working with what the aims and objectives of the session are.
To understand what Pay it Forward is, to understand how doing something for others is beneficial for our well-being and to feel con- fident completing a Pay it Forward application.
Pen Flipchart
GROUND RULES
If relevant or set ones for this session if necessary
Explain to the group, people need to feel safe in order to share their views and experiences.
Examples
• Respect other people
• Listen to what other people are saying
• What people say, stays in the group (unless they or anyone else is at risk)
Ground rules pre-prepared and written up on a flipchart pen
Time Activity Method Resources
ICEBREAKER
WOULD YOU RATHER
Ask the group to answer a number of question by standing on one side of the room. For example would you rather eat broccoli (stand to my left) or carrots (stand to my right).
Would you rather questions
DISCUSSION & ACTIVITY WHAT IS WELLBEING?
INTRODUCE HEADSTART KENT
Ask the group what they think WELLBEING is? In 2 groups, ask them to write their ideas on the handout. Ask them to feedback to the group and write what they say up on a flipchart.
Discuss what young people have suggested.
Read out to the group WELLBEING is:
“…. a good… condition of existence… Characterised by health, happi- ness, prosperity and welfare…”
OR in simple terms:
“the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy”.
Discuss with the group their thoughts on this.
Play video introducing HeadStart Kent. HeadStart Kent is part of Kent County Council’s Integrated Children’s Services and aims to help young people cope better when faced with difficult circum- stances in their lives, preventing them from experiencing common mental health problems. The programme is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund to provide the resources to develop ap- proaches that support young people to develop their own resilience to cope with the everyday pressures they may face throughout their lives.
Flipchart Pens
https://
kentresiliencehub.org.uk/the- story-so-far/
Time Activity Method Resources
DISCUSSION As a group or in pairs ask the young people to discuss the last time they did something that helped somebody else. Ask young people to feedback to the group how helping that person or persons made them feel. Feelings may include happiness, pride, a sense of achievement, determination.
Now discuss how it felt the last time someone did something for you. Feedback to the group.
Pens Paper
INTRODUCE PIF
DISCUSSION
Ask the group what they think Pay It Forward could be?
The Pay It Forward scheme provides grants of between £250 and
£1,000 for projects led by young people aged 10 – 16.
Pay It Forward means doing something to help somebody else’s wellbeing. HeadStart is giving groups of young people the chance to make this happen. The original idea for the fund came from Kent’s young people. The Pay It Forward project should aim to improve the emotional wellbeing of other people, whether that be where young people live, at school, at a club or at another community or- ganisation.
PowerPoint
Time Activity Method Resources IDEAS FOR A PIF APPLICATION
EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS SUCCESSFUL PIF APPLICATIONS
In pairs or as a group ask the young people to think of ideas and suggestions for a Pay It Forward application and how they think there ideas could benefit others.
Discuss the examples of successful projects.
Previous successful Pay It Forward projects include:
Sensory gardens and safe spaces in schools and youth centres.
Anti-bullying projects in schools.
School clubs including Lego, cookery, reading and sports.
Making hampers for local care homes.
Transition events for year 6 leavers.
Art and craft projects and a dance performance.
One-off event for young people with special educational needs.
Community gardening projects.
Renovating a local pond.
What were the groups thoughts on these projects? Could they see the benefits to them and how they can help others?
Pens
Flipchart/paper
Who is going to benefit sheet
PowerPoint slide showing suc- cessful PIF projects
Time Activity Method Resources TOP TIPS
PIF Testimonials – ‘Remote but not Alone’
Explain to the group that they need to make sure the PIF application is fully completed before submitting.
Young people receive the applications and they decide if the applications should receive the full amount asked for, some of the amount or no amount.
Young Person’s comment:
“We score the PIF applications and we want to see young people’s in- volvement in all parts of the application, we also like to see a breakdown of where all of the money will be going!”
Read to the group the testimonial and discuss how this project benefitted others?
Top tips sheet
Copy of PIF application PowerPoint slide
PowerPoint slide
EVALUATION & CLOSE SESSION Ask the group if they enjoyed the training and now feel confident in applying for a Pay It Forward grant.
Application can be completed here
https://kentresiliencehub.org.uk/schools-and-communities/
participation/pay-it-forward-grant/
Evaluation Form
